We were treated like royalty today.
. . . . .
As we entered the shanty building frame wrapped in tarps and cardboard, the pastors proudly led us to the front elevated area where there were 6 plastics chairs placed around a table for us to be seated. Worship was already going on and I welcomed the sound of the soulful singer to my being. As the praise and music continued on, it stirred joy in my heart to see people dancing and singing boldly with their whole self- something I dearly wish was experienced in services at home in the states. At one point, a woman came a grabbed me off stage and we started dancing in the front of the church for worship, and soon an entire crowd joined us! The spirit was in high energy. Soon, women came and dressed the table in front of us with fine, white lace coverings and set an array of beverage choices before us. (I was happy to see cold water inside of the hot plastic tent we had been dancing in for an hour.) What a gesture of hospitality to us, that we may be so cared for.
The pastor shared some verses about how we were a blessing and a welcome exhale of hope that their congregation would grow with this potential new partnership. Then, Nathan spoke such a powerful and amazing message about God as Creator. I kept wishing that all of my friends who are on the fence about God could have been in there as the entire crowd- which had doubled at this point- enthusiastically cheered on in agreement about how amazing our very world is as a life-system.
Our time with them continued as they starting filling the table with the nicest silver pots and clean white plates as they prepared a lunch for us. It was delicious- and also a weird experience to have everyone watch you eat their local delicacies, on stage, in front of a crowd. (They were served food soon after us.) They took such care to serve us and bless us as a show for how grateful they are to see the hope we bring of them recovering their first ever support teams.
My favorite moment of the whole experience was when the sound system cut out because the car battery that was powering it went dead… Right in the middle of us all singing together “yes lord, yes lord, yes yes lord!” And EVERYONE kept singing… and got louder… and added in clapping… and kept the beat going… and the drums started beating… and the lady leading worship showed a smile on her face of gleeful surprise and amazement. It was like when “Living on a Prayer” is booming through the crowds at sports stadiums without the music continuing in the background. And it was just as loud in this tabernacle of glory! There was nothing that would keep us from praising, dancing, shouting, smiling, singing together.
It is an afternoon and an experience I hope I do not soon forget.
